“And have some sample spreads printed,” Sophie suggested. “We’ll have a meeting tomorrow to look over your presentation.”
Ivy chewed her lip. “They actually want to meet now.”
“Now, now?” I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing my basic black jeans and a loose black polo to hide the muffin top of stress.
“I can’t meet a publisher!”
“This is your big chance!” Amy insisted. “It’s New York City. You’re wearing black. You’ll be fine!”
* * *
It was not fine.
I was sitting in the nonfiction waiting room of the big New York publishing house. There were a number of other women in the room. I recognized them as former models and lesser-known actresses. Dressed to the nines in that understated New York way, they wore simple sculptural coats that if sold could pay off my college debt, carried luxury-brand handbags, and wore expensive, chic jewelry.
Meanwhile, I was rocking my slightly frayed camera bag.
I had hastily printed out some of my coffee-table sample pages at the office then taken a too-expensive Uber to Midtown.
The stress and the snacking were getting to me.
“Grace,” the receptionist called.
“Yes?” I jumped up, camera bag banging my leg. I had a job to go to after this. Otherwise, I would have left it in the office.
I felt like the awkward girl in middle school as I trucked after the receptionist as she led me back into the bright, daylight-filled office to a glass-enclosed conference room.
“You will be meeting with two of our senior editors,” she chirped, opening the door for me. “Tea? Coffee? Water?”
“No, thanks,” I said.
“Grace!”
A well-dressed middle-aged woman with a silver bob stuck out her hand to greet me. “Victoria. Great to meet you. This is Addison, one of our editors.”
Ah, shit.
Addison’s nose turned up.
“This is who Evan Harrington asked that we meet with?”
Victoria’s smile stayed plastered to her face, but it was clear she was confused.
“Addison is one of my brides,” I explained in a rush, starting to sweat. It was awkward enough seeing one of your clients out in the wild. And Addison was furious I had invaded her turf!
“I really appreciate the meeting,” I said as we sat down inside the conference room.
“It’s going to be quick,” Addison said sourly. “Victoria and I are very busy. And honestly, there is not a lot of demand for a coffee-table book.”
“I think the book would work well for offices or for people who like fashion and design and decorating,” I said, putting my large bag on the table to fish out the printouts of the sample pages. “It could also be a great gift for people to give to their friends who are planning to or have recently gotten married.”
My palms were sweaty as I tried to pry the folder out of the stuffed bag. It was stuck on something.
“I just have to get this out, and I can show you—crap!”
The folder had wiggled free, but it had also dislodged a confetti of rainbow-colored condoms all over the glass table. Several bounced to the floor.
“Sorry!” I said, scrambling to pick them all up.
